Engine starter



R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER Filed Oct.

Dec. 23, 1930.

6, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Evan-f5)?"- M/ KM, F fig flcf m/l awp Dec. 23, 1930. LANSlNG 1,786,119

ENGINE STARTER Filed Oct. 6, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J'nverz fora A 0 /J% v #2,

7 f X age Dec. 23, 1930. I LANSING 1,786,119

ENGINE] STARTER Filed Oct. 6, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 RAYMOND P. LANSING, OF MON TCLAIR,

COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW

ENGINE STARTER Application filed October 6, 1926. serial No. 139,778.

My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of internal combustion engines, more particularly but not necessarily the engines of airplanes, and the object thereof is to provide a simple, efficient and reliableapparatus of this character for either power or manual operation and characterized by the provision of novel means for controlling the engagement of the driving member or element of the drive proper with a member of the engine to be started, and also for controlling the operative connection between the power .means such as an electric motor and such drive and also for controlling the switch of such motor. In the present instance and by preference, a single operating means such as a lever is employed for accomplishing the said several different controls. The various features and utility in the construction and operation of my apparatus will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my. apparatus with both the power and manual mechanisms embodied therein; Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an end elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 4 a detailed view of the clutch; Fig. 5 an end elevation of a modified form of apparatus, and Fig. 6 a sectional elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 5.

In so far as my present invention in its broader aspect is concerned, the exact con struction of the drive or transmission proper and of the electric motor, and the manual starter means and the connections therefor including the reduction gearing is immaterial,, but the construction herein shown and now about to be described isa practical one and is therefore utilized for the purpose of a complete and definite description of my invention.

Referring to the apparatus as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the same comprises essentially the driveor transmission proper in= eluding a driving member normally disengaged from but adapted to engage a member of theengine to be started, power means such as an electric motor and including reductien gearing operatively connected thereof advantagewith and also a hand starter means operatively connected with'such drive or transmission.

First describing the drive or transmission as herein shown, the same is located and mounted within a main casing 1, within which rotates a barrel 2 and a sleeve 3 concentrically arranged therewithin and providing an annular space in order to receive a yieldable driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 4. The sets of plates of this tively to the interior of the barrel and exterior of the sleeve and the proper spring pres-. sure is provided for such friction plates by means of a series of springs 5 which are located in such space. The necessary spring tension is obtained by the adjustable nut 6 which is provided with a sleeve portion 7.

Within the sleeve 3 and also the nut 6 and its sleeve portion 7 there is mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement a shaft having towards one end a reduced portion 8 and at its other end a main portion 9 which slides in said nut 6. The outer end of this shaft which constitutes the driving member of the drive is provided with inclined clutch jaws 10, preferably having their front faces undercut or reentrantly inclined as shown, which are adapted to be engaged with corresponding clutch jaws 11 forming a part of or secured to an engine member 12 of the engine to be started. In the present instance this mounting for longitudinal and rotary movement of the driving member of shaft is accomplished by means of splines 13 be tween the sleeve 3 and the reduced portion 8 of such shaft. A stop nut 14- is secured to the right hand end of this shaft to limit the left hand movement thereof.

The barrel 2 is inwardly flanged and then cylindrically extended at its right hand end Fig. 1, in orderto form a flange portion 15 and a central hub 16. To this hub there is suitably secured a bevel pinion 17 and a plate 18 is positioned between such pinion and the flange 15. Such plate coacts with the interior shoulder 19 of the casing l and a nut 18 on the outer end of the barrel coacts with shoulder 19 of the casing, whereby the clutch are splined respec- NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINE YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK driving assembly and its connected parts are held in proper position longitudinally.

The manual starting means or hand crankingmechanism comprises a cranking shaft 20 which has its hearings in an opening through a boss or extension 21 of the main casing. This cranking shaft is provided at its inner end within the casing with a bevel pinion 22 meshing with the bevel pinion 17. By preference means are provided for locking this cranking shaft against backward rotation such as occasioned at times by backfire of the engine. The means herein shown comprise a sleeve 23 which is splined to the cranking shaft so as to rotate therewith and to slide longitudinally thereon. This sleeve has on its inner face ratchet teeth 24 adapted to cooperate with complementary ratchet teeth 25 on the outer face of a stationary plate 26 which is clamped by the screws 27 between the end cap 28 and the end of the casing extension 21. The movable ratchet memher, or sleeve 23 is normally held in engagement with the stationary member by a spring 29 interposed between such movable member and the end cap 28. This ratchet mechanism permits the cranking shaft to rotate in one direction only and serves to lock the cranking shaft against rotation in the opposite direction, that is in the backward direction such as would be occasioned by backfire of the engine. v

Referring to the power starting means the same comprises, as'herein shown, an electric motor 30 together with its appropriate energizing circuit and a switch by which it may e actuated or set in rotation, such motor being here shown as provided with a drive pinion 31 on its extended armature shaft. This pinion is operatively connected with and drives the reduction means which is here in of the planetary type comprising a large rotatable bevel gear 32 with which the pinion 31 meshes, and which is loosely mounted upon the central driving shaft 33. The hub of gear 32 is formed with a pinion 34: constituting the sun gear or pinion and meshing with the three planetary pinions 35 which are mounted to revolve and to rotate on studs 36 in a frame or cage consisting of two parallel plates 37 and 38 between which said planetary pinions are adapted to rotate on such studs. These planetary pinions 35 mesh with a large stationary internal gear 39 which is securedto the endplate 4-0 of the casing 1.

The shaft 33 is drivingly connected with the plate 38 of the planetary gearing and also permitted to have longitudinal movement with respect thereto as by means of splines 41. The right hand end of this shaft 33 is enlarged and extends laterally through the boss 42 of the plate 40, such shaft terminating in a recess 43 with which a yoke hereinafter described engages.

As shown in Fig. 1 and'also in detail in cooperate with the Fig. i the hub 16 of the driving barrel 2 is provided with clutch teeth 4 1 with which en gage complementary clutch teeth 45 on the adjacent end of a sleeve 46 mounted by means of a pin and slot connection on the shaft for longitudinal movement of such shaft and for rotary movement therewith, such slot shown at 47 being in the sleeve and the pin 48 being in the shaft. A coil spring 49 serves to hold the clutch teeth 44 and 45 normally in engagement so as to establish driving relationship between the shaft-33 of the hub 16 and consequently the driving barrel 2. In Fig, 2 there is shown a suitable form of switch for the motor the same comprising a button 50 having a plunger 51 extending into a casing 52 secured to the end plate 40 and carrying a switch plate 53 adapted to electric contacts 54: and 55 and thereby close the circuit when such button is pressed inwardly against the tension of the spring 56 which tends to restore the switch to normal or open position when pressure on the button 50 is removed.

Next describing the means for operating and controlling the driving member, the clutch and the switch, and accomplishing such control at the proper time and first considering the operative means illustrated in Fig. 1, the same comprise a lever 57 pivoted at its lower end on the pivot pin 58 extending transversely in a bracket 59 projecting from the plate 40. This. lever has an upwardly extending branch arm 60 terminating in a yoke 61 which in turn carries at its upper end a shifter 61 engaging in said recess 43 of the shaft 33. A second but smaller lever 63 is pivoted intermediate its length at 64 to the bracket 59 and the same carries at its lower end a pin 65 and the upper end or arm of such lever 63 cooperates with a pin 66 which is secured to and extends laterally from the large lever 57 intermediate its length and in the path of movement of such lever 63. Through an 1 the clutch teeth 44 and 45 are in engagenient and the driving member is out of engagement with the engine member 12 and the switch 50 is in normal or open condition and consequently both the power means and the hand cranking means are operatively connected with the drive or transmission. Now assuming that it is desired to use the hand cranking means alone and to. disengage the power means and the reduction gearing.

the operator moves the rod 67 to the right the rod 74 to move back (Fig. 1) thereby oscillating the lever'57 in a clockwise direction and shifting the shaft 33 from the neutral position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the spring pressed plunger 71 engages in the central groove 72 to .a position to the right wherein such plunger will engage the left hand groove 73. Thereupon the movement of such lever 57 will oscillate the lever 63 in a counter-clockwise direction and actuate the rod 74, causingits upper end to contact and move the operating rod 74 inwardly, that is, towards .the'left in Fig. 1. This rod extends centrally through the shaft 33 and the hub 16 and cooperates with the driving member of the drive to shift the latter into engagement with the engine memher. The apparatus is now actuated by the hand cranking means and, the engine is cranked. When the engine starts on its own power the inclined rear-face formation of the teeth or-jaws and 11 will automatically cause disengagement between the driving member and the engine member.

Next assuming that it is desired to utilize the electric motor as the starting means; the rod 67 is moved inwardly, that is, to the left in Fig. 1, and if the clutch jaws 44 and 45 are not then in engagement, such engagement will be established by the movement of the shaft 33 through the lever 57 and its branch arm 60 and also the lever 63 will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction but the pin 66 and the rod 74 will thereupon be shifted to the left and the driving member will be brought into engagement with the engine member as before. Thereupon inasmuch as the lever 57 has reached the limit of its movement to the left, further and continued movement of the rod 67 will be permitted by the springs 69 so that the end 70 of such rod will move-the switch button 50, to close the circuit which energizes the motor 30. The apparatus will now be power driven and the engine will be cranked. When the engine starts on its ownpower the drive will be disengaged automatically in the manner already described. In this particular-construction and operation the switch is operated and the motor energized to actuate the engine starting apparatus subsequent to the time of the meshing of the driving member of the drive with the engine member.

In respect to both instances of the above described operation the automatic disengagement between the engine member and the driving member of the drive can take place even though the operator may through inadvertence or otherwise have kept the operating rod 67 in its operated condition. It is thus possible for the driving member and to normal position, that is to the right in Fig. l owing to the yielding connection between the lever 57 and the rod 67 which permits such lever to move to the right although the rod 67 is still maintained In Figs. 5 and 61 have shown a modified form of construction of. the-controlling means for operating said clutches and the switch and the same reference numerals are employed in so far as they are applicable to' corresponding parts. .According to the modified form of construction the lever 57 does not have any yielding connection with the operating rod 67 but is pivoted thereto at and provided with a spring pressed operat ing rod 76 which passes slidingly through the lever 57 near its upper end and is held in its extended left hand position in a yielding manner as by means of a coil spring 77 with its contact head 78 in 'line with the switch button 50. In this construct-ion the lever 63 is normally positioned as to its upper end a certain predetermined distance from the left hand end of the meshing rod 74 so that the switch will be operated and the motor energized to actuate the engine starting apparatus and put the same in motion before the driving member of the drive is meshed with the engine member.

in its operated or left hand position.-

When it is desired to utilize the hand I cranking means as the starting means and to disconnect the clutch 46 and bring about mesh with the engine member, the lever 57 is operated as above described in connection with the structure of Fig. 1, but when it is desired to utilize the electric motor as the starting means the rod 67 is operated to oscillate the lever 57 in a counter-clockwise direction whereupon the rod 76 will actuate the switch and cause the motor to be energized. Thereupon the pin 66 will have moved the upper end of the lever 63 into engagement with the right hand end of the rod 74: thereby shifting such rod to the left (Fig. 6) and consequently shifting the driving member of the drive into meshing and driving relation with the engine member. Thus in this instance the motor is energized and the engine starting appa'ratusis brought into motion prior to the time of engagement of the drive with the engine member. It will be understood strong. enough to permit closure ofthe starting switch but weak enough to be further compressed in order that the operating rod 67 and the lever 57 may be further advanced for the purpose of shifting the rod 74. and the, driving member of the drive into. meshing position.

With respect to both forms of operating that the spring 77 is -ing of the motor occurs subsequently. In'the case of the structure shown in Fig. 6 the reverse is true, that is the actuation of the switch and the energizing of ,the motor oc curs initially and the meshing of the drive with the engine occurs subsequently. In both bevel gears 22 and 17 to the driving barrel 4 and thence through the clutch 4 to the shell 3 and thence to the driving member 9 of the drive and finally through the clutch jaws 10 and 11 to the engine member 12.

Next describing the line of transmission of torque from the electric motor, the torque is transmitted from the pinion 31 on the armature shaft through the planetary pinions 35 and the plate 38 to the central driving shaft 33 and thence through the clutch jaws 44 and 45 to the driving barrel and thence through the engine member as above.

In Fig. 2, the electrical connections for the motor, switch and battery are diagrammatically shown in which the motor is indicated at M and the battery at B.

I claim:

1. An engine starter including a drive having .a driving member adapted to be moved longitudinally to engage and rotated to crank a member of the engine to be started, an electric motor and its switch, means for drivingly connecting said'motor anddriving mem ber including a hollow shaft and a single means for dissimultaneously operating the driving member and the switch, said means including a longitudinally movable rod in axial alinement and cooperating with the driving member and extending through said hollow shaft.

2. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to be moved longitudinally to engage and rotated to crank a member of the engine to be started, an electric motor and its switch, means for drivingly connecting said motor and driving member including a hollow shaft and a single means for dissimultaneously operating the driving member and the switch, said means including a longitudinally movable rod in axial alinement and cooperating withthe driving member and extending freely through said hollow shaft, and a lever adapted to actuate the switch and move the rod longitudinally.

3. An engine starter including a drive hav ing a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, and a single means for actuating the starting means and the rod.

4. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member, and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, and a lever for actuating the starting means and the rod.

5. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, alongitudinally mov' able driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally and a manually operated lever for dissimultaneously actuating the starting means and the rod.

6. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of'the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, a single means for actuating the starting means and the rod, such means including mechanism for disconnecting the starting means from-operative connection with the 'drive at the will of the operator.

7. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the drivin member and operatively connected with t e barrel, a. starting means meagre operatively connected with such shaft, a second starting means having connections for operating said shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, a single means for actuating the lirst said star ing means and the rod, such means including mechanism for disconnecting the first starting means from operative connection with the drive at the will of the operator when said second starting means is the one utilized.

8. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatablyconnected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, a

7 single means for actuating the starting means for disconnecting and the rod, and a clutch the starting means from operative connection with the drive at the will of the operator.

9. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, said barrel having a hub with a clutch connection with said shaft, said shaft being movable longitudinally to disestablish said clutch connection.

10. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means oper atively connected tending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, said shaft being movable longitudinally to disestablish its operative connection with the barrel.

11. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage anda driving shaft arranged in crank a member or the engine to bestarted, axial almement with such shaft, a rod em.

with the driving member and operatively connected With the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such. shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, and means for holding such shaft in ditl'erent longitudinal positions.

12. An engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine startedo a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with such shalt, a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, said barrel having a hub with a clutch connection with said shalt, and manually operated means drivingly connected with said hub, said shaft being movable to disestablish said clutch connection when the manually operated means are utilized.

l3. Ari-engine starter including a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started,

member and operatively U a driving shaft arrangedin axial. alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a starting means operatively connected with snchshalt, a rod extending" longitudinally through said shaft and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, reduction gearing eneratively connecting between sai" starting means and said shaft, and a the starting means and the rod.

Zia, An engine starter includin a drive having a driving barrel, a longitudinally movable driving member located concentrically within nected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shaft arranged in axial alinement with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, eratively connected with such shaft, a rod extending longitudinally through said shalt and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, reduction gearing operatively connecting between said starting means and said shaft, and means for manually shitting said shaft and also for actu ting the star ing means and the rod.

15. An engine starter includin having a driving movable driving member located concentrically within the barrel and rotatably connected therewith and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a driving shalt arrangedin axial alinernent a drive single means for actuating the barrel and rotatably cona barrel, a longitudinally llill a starting means op- 1 with the driving member and operatively connected with the barrel, a startin means operatively connected with such sha a rod extending longitudinally through said shaft ing said shaft and the starting means an and adapted to shift the driving member longitudinally, reduction gearing operatively connectin between said starting means and said sha and a single lever for actuatd the rod.

16. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to be shifted longitudinally to engage and rotated to crank a member of the engine to be started and to be automatically returned to disengaged position when the engine starts, a starting motor operatively connected with said driving member to rotate it, and a single means for shifting said driving member to engaging position and actuating said motor, said means embodying a spring pressed member adapted and arranged to permit disengagement member from the engine member while said means is in motor-actuating position.

17. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to be shifted longitudinally 'to engage and rotated to crank a member of the engine to be started and to be automatically returned to disengaged position when the engine operates under its own power, a starting motor having operative connections with said driving member to rotate it, and a single means for shifting said driving member and actuatin said motor including a part to be advance and a yielding connection between said part and said driving member permita I ting automatic return of the driving member while'said part remains advanced.

18. An engine starter including a driving member adapted to be shifted longitudinally to engage and rotated to crank a member of the engine to be started and to be automatically returned to disengaged position when the engine operates under its own power, a start ing motor having operative connections with said drivin member to rotate it, and a single means for shifting said driving member and actuating said motor including a manually operable part to be advanced and a yielding connection between said part and said driving member permitting automatic return of the driving member while said part remains advance In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my I name. i

RAYMOND P. LANSING.

of said driving 

